Treating Sinusitis at the Saint Louis University Sinus Institute

05/28/2014

Pictured: Dr. Jastin Antisdel at Sinus Institute

“For the first time in 20 years, I can breathe again”

Kevin Katon was miserable. For more than 20 years he endured pounding headaches, repeated
sinus infections, sleep apnea and relentless facial pain and pressure. His nasal passages
were so blocked, he could barely draw a breath. "I had chronic sinusitis, and it was
like a severe head cold that never went away," recalls the 51-year-old forecast analyst
from South County. "I went to two different doctors and had two surgeries, but they
didn't fix what was wrong." He was still miserable, suffering up to five severe sinus
infections a year and popping antibiotics like they were M&M's.

Then he heard about Saint Louis University Sinus Institute. "Kevin's previous surgery had been incomplete-he had anatomical abnormalities in
his nose that hadn't been addressed," says Dr. Jastin Antisdel, director of the Institute and a member of SLUCare, the physicians of Saint Louis
University. "Plus, like most people with sinusitis, he had multiple factors contributing
to his condition, including allergies, that needed to be taken into consideration."
Antisdel, chief of the division of rhinology and sinus surgery at SLU, tailored a
plan to Katon's unique needs. "We took care of his structural issues via minimally
invasive endoscopic surgery, and we adjusted his medication," he says. "That did the
trick: he hasn't had problems in more than a year."

SLU Sinus Institute treats the complete range of sinus problems, from nasal blockage,
allergies, recurrent infections, deviated septums and nasal polyps, to brain and eye
tumors that can be accessed through the nose. "SLU has been the undisputed regional
leader in sinonasal care and surgery for more than 30 years," says Antisdel, who practices
at SLUCare's midtown and West County offices. "Our medical and surgical expertise
are nationally recognized, and our status as a major research institution allows us
to incorporate the latest developments in endoscopic surgery, computer navigation,
sublingual immunotherapy and other innovative approaches."

We understand that patients are experiencing discomfort or even pain, so our nurse
practitioner can see them on a same-day basis and direct them to the best treatment.”

The institute is known for its accessibility and individualized approach to patient
care, Antisdel notes. "We understand that patients are experiencing discomfort or
even pain, so our nurse practitioner can see them on a same-day basis and direct them
to the best treatment," he says. Treatment can vary greatly from patient to patient,
he adds: "Sinus issues can be tremendously complex-there's no one-size-fits-all solution
to sinusitis, for example. There can be many contributing factors, including immune
dysfunction and structural abnormalities. But it takes an expert to understand, diagnose
and treat these factors correctly, safely and effectively. We deliver that expertise,
resulting in the best possible outcomes for patients under our care."

Patients like Kevin Katon. "Thanks to Dr. Antisdel and his team at the Sinus Institute,
I can breathe again," he says. "The headaches are gone, the sleep apnea is gone, and
I can taste and enjoy food once again. And for the first time in more than 20 years,
I got through the entire winter without a single sinus infection."